Articles Tagged withZyprexa

In 2009, the company Eli Lilly & Co. plead guilty to illegally marketing an antipsychotic drug, Zyprexa, for unapproved uses on patients, leading to a fine of $1.42 billion. This settlement ended a series of civil lawsuits, as well as a criminal investigation. At the time this large of a settlement was unheard of, but how did the company orchestrate such a massive kickback scheme?

The Kickback Scheme

Originally, Zyprexa was approved for a very narrow use of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, however Eli Lilly & Co. soon began to market the drug for a variety of other purposes. In fact, it was alleged that Zyprexa was eventually marketed to treat dementia, and was even prescribed for illnesses related to pediatrics in high doses. The company was also accused of overcharging for the drug. This allowed the company to target a significantly wider audience, increasing their potential profits on the drug exponentially.